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France winger Franck Ribery ruled out of World Cup

Published on NewsOK
Modified: June 6, 2014 at 1:39 pm •
Published: June 6, 2014

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PARIS (AP) — France's World Cup ambitions were dealt a significant blow just three days before the team's departure for Brazil, with winger Franck Ribery forced to pull out of the tournament after failing to overcome a back injury that has bothered him for several weeks.

France's forward Franck Ribery poses for the team picture at the French national football team's training base, in Clairefontaine, outside Paris, Friday, June 6, 2014 as part of France's national football team's preparation for the upcoming FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Coach Didier Deschamps now has to rethink his whole strategy without France's talismanic player and best attacker.

The timing was particularly cruel, as Ribery seemed to have made good progress from the injury, only to suddenly pull up in pain during an individual training session on Friday morning.

Having hoped Ribery would play a part in the friendly against Jamaica on Sunday, Deschamps has now replaced the Bayern Munich winger with Montpellier winger Remy Cabella.

"Obviously with Ribery at 100 percent we're a better team, but we'll try and be a good team without him," Deschamps said. "He is unable to train for a few weeks now and even less so to play."

Cabella was on the reserve list and has made just one substitute appearance for France. He scored 14 league goals last season.

Ribery's absence means that Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann will likely start on the left wing, unless Deschamps decides to put Karim Benzema on the left and Olivier Giroud at center forward. However, Benzema and Giroud are both better in a central striker's role.

Griezmann has much in common with Ribery.

He is 23 years old and broke into the side only weeks before the World Cup after some impressive club performances. Ribery was also age 23 when he broke into the France team just weeks before the 2006 World Cup, where he went on to become a star.

In another setback for Deschamps, attacking midfielder Clement Grenier was also withdrawn with a recurrence of a groin injury that has hampered him all season for Lyon.

The 23-year-old Grenier tore his right groin in training on Thursday and has been replaced by Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, who has never played for France.

"I'm very sad for them," Deschamps said. "I wasn't expecting this. If they were here it's because I was counting on them, and the signs were very positive."

Deschamps said both players were distraught when they realized they will not be on the plane to Brazil.

"How do you think (they felt)? They're missing out on the World Cup," Deschamps said. "Of course there are worse things in life, but they are the first to be affected by it."